Coach Stoops & Paul Thompson Quotes

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops and senior quarterback Paul Thompson met with the media at the weekly football press conference Tuesday.

Oklahoma moved to 3-1 with a 59-0 shutout of Middle Tennessee at Owen Field on Saturday. Quarterback Paul Thompson finished with 257 passing yards (13-for-18) and three touchdowns.

The Sooners are off this weekend. OU opens Big 12 Conference play on October 7 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas against the Texas Longhorns. The game is set for 2:30 p.m. on ABC.

HEAD COACH BOB STOOPS
On last week's performance against Middle Tennessee:
"It was pleasing to come out and play solid and very good fundamentally in all parts of the game. We were consistent with it throughout the game.

"Some of our issues in the past haven't been our opponent as much as sometimes it's been us -- in our positioning, alignment and responsibility. A procedure is a procedure no matter who you're playing-- taking care of the football, being right where you're supposed to be. Regardless of who you're playing, sometimes our problems are self-inflicted. We didn't have any of that the other night. The players recognize it when they play well.

"Defense has been where most of our inconsistency has been. We were really solid the other night in the way we played with our fundamentals and responsibilities.

"Malcolm Kelly played well offensively the other night. We as coaches voted him as player of the game. He was making big plays and is such a big, strong target. We're excited with the way he's playing.

"Another guy that played well was Paul Thompson. He was very good in how he handled everything.

"Our offensive line was very solid. They (Middle Tennessee) blitzed virtually every down and their protection was very good with no breakdowns in who we were picking up. We were very solid in that way and also run-blocking. Our offensive line, tight ends and fullbacks were all recognized as well.

"Defensively, Rufus Alexander and Zach Latimer were co-players of the game. They both had excellent games.

"Special teams-wise, Reggie Smith was player of the game for us along with Curtis Lofton, who caused a fumble and a few other tackles and recovered some kicks. Garrett Hartley was very good as well."

On the bye-week:
"This week we'll use the off-week to practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. We'll give them the weekend off and come back Sunday evening to start preparation for Texas. We'll start a little this week and use the extra time in practice as well.

"I do (like the bye-week being the week before Texas) since we have one. It gives you extra time to really prepare and look at them to work your plan. I like the fact that this week we can continue to polish and work techniques and fundamentals to get better.

On the improvement of the wide receivers:
"They are (improved). And should be. Last year they were true freshmen. I said that going into the year I expected the players around Paul to play better. Those guys are making big plays and are capable of it. I think they'll only keep getting better. I think more and more of them will step up and make those kinds of plays."

On the offensive line:
"They did a nice job out there. Chase Beeler played at center most of the day and did a really nice job. Trent Williams was out there at the right tackle position and Corey Brandon came in and did well also. They were up running with their feet and they did well."

"Branndon Braxton is playing well. Duke Robinson and Chris Messner too. Most all of them I have been very pleased with. I won't sit here and say everybody -- they have all at different times done better than others, but I don't know that there's been a case in these four weeks that somebody's been disappointing."

On Reggie Smith:
"It worked out well (moving Reggie from corner to strong safety). Everywhere he plays he plays well. He was solid the other day out there of course. Obviously, we just weren't as pleased as we wanted to be in our safety position. Reggie in there may be the answer.

"He's a true corner, true safety and a true receiver. Whatever he chooses, he's got the body to be any of them. He has the speed and the fluidness to be any of them. If Reggie's a full-time receiver, he's a natural. He is a guy that has that kind of ability. What makes him so special is his mindset. He is very serious about everything he does-his class work, his workouts, the way he practices. He's mature beyond his years. That's what makes him special along with his ability. He's a great one."

On the defensive performance:
"Some (of their performance) is improvement but we still have to keep pushing forward. I believe the unit is very capable of being good but we've got to work towards that and keep improving as we go."

On the confidence level going into Texas:
"The confidence is strong. We know we have to earn it. I like the way we're practicing and preparing. They'll be excited to play. I realize the experience level from a year ago is drastically different in a lot of areas on our team that really matter."

On Nic Harris' play in the secondary:
Nic is showing up more and more making plays. He's getting more comfortable back there and recognizing plays and where he needs to be. He's a big strong guy and he's got a lot of ability and he's starting to show it. He's doing a nice job.

There's a lot mentally (in playing strong safety). They're two different positions. You take the chance of giving him this because he's playing so well and then maybe it's too much. We'll see."

On the difference between this year and last year's team going into Texas:
His (Paul's) maturity and the way he's played through four games and the confidence he's built has been good. The receivers around him and the way they're playing is stronger. All around. Adrian Peterson is a different story than a year ago coming into this game. The secondary is different than what they had experienced a year ago. There's a lot that's different."

On Texas without Vince Young:
"You don't have the plays where people are covered and all of the sudden he still gets 50 yards. That's something that's different. But Colt McCoy is doing a great job of managing their team and the way they play. They are very efficient and they're running the football well with Selvin Young and Jamaal Charles. They have good receivers. They're solid.

Defensively, it's the same. They are very sound in the way they play. It's a good football team and that's what we've expected to see.

On Adrian Peterson:
He's as valuable without the football as he is with it because of the threat of him getting it. The play action passes or faking it to him here or there gets people on edge or they get to chasing him and he doesn't have it. It changes things. He's doing well at pass-blocking, he's been excellent.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

SENIOR QUARTERBACK PAUL THOMPSON
On the offensive improvement:
"I think we're really comfortable where we're at. I think from week one until where we're at now as far as goals we have set for ourselves including turnovers, false start penalties and things we can control, we have a visual for where we're at now as an offense and where we're at now as compared to where we were at the first game is a significant difference. We're definitely real comfortable where we're at and where we're going.

"I feel real comfortable with our game plan we have going in each week. I also feel comfortable in our offense and how we can execute."

On being a leader:
"Coming in here as one of the older guys, I feel as if I should feel more comfortable and relaxed on the field than any one else. I should be the last one to worry about because I feel real comfortable with myself and with what I can do.

"Me being a senior, I'm trying to look at helping the other guys out, so I'm not too focused with myself. I know the experience I've had in the past, as well as film work I've done. I'm definitely where I need to be, so I'm trying to help the rest of the team."

On Malcolm Kelly:
"A couple times I'd see him open for a split second and I'd just throw it up there -- I know he'll make a big play. That's what he did all of last year and this year. He's just a big receiver with big hands and great body control. Any one of you all could throw the ball up in the air and he could make a play."

On having a week off:
"I like having the off week more so than not having one off. Definitely when you have the ball rolling, you want to keep the ball rolling. Going into the first game against the Big 12 and going against a team like Texas, you want to make sure you're as rested as you can be and as prepared as you can be. Being rested will be a big factor for this next game.

"I probably won't go back home. I need to stay away from Austin a little bit. I'm definitely going to relax. Coach knows that there's a lot that I need to learn, but he tells me when I get a chance, to just get away from it. You can get bogged down with it at times. I'm going to stick around Norman but definitely relax and just watch some other football.

"As far as a mental state, I know I don't have a game this week so I'm definitely going to try to relax. These next couple of days at practice I'm going to study hard for it, but I'm going to get off my feet this weekend. Getting extra studying in is going to benefit and help us as far as what we want to accomplish next week. I will definitely be excited to get out there and play.

"I know I'm not going to come out mentally rusty. I'm going be prepared as much as I can. The bigger the game, the more excited I am to compete and prove to the team and the coaches with what we can do. I definitely think the off week will help us and I feel comfortable with where we're at."

On the Middle Tennessee game:
"It doesn't matter who you're playing, but offensively as long as you're taking the ball those are the things you can control. Another thing is if you go offsides before the snap, then that's a penalty.

"We wanted to go into the game with a strong mental focus, not overlooking anybody and not thinking about previous games and I think we accomplished that.

"Defensively, knowing our assignments and knowing where we're supposed to be doesn't have much to do with who you're playing, but it's just a mental preparation and where you are mentally. That makes me want to stay focused and make sure our mental assignments are correct."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors